Using Your Gut Instincts in the Workplace
by Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach
Any great convincer of people knows that the way to
someone’s mind is through their heart. Freud, the great
intellectual and father of analysis, talked about people who
were amenable only to “the logic of gruel and the argument
of dumplings,” which is best left metaphorical, but the fact
of the irrational matter is that we all are. We might move
up a bit to the logic of croissants and the argument of
Salmon Almandine, but it remains that we are most convinced
and motivated by something that appeals not to our reason,
but to our passion. After all, “the heart has reasons of
which the mind knows nothing,” to quote Blaise Pascal. And
the key here is “after all.” After all appeals to reason
and logic … after we have “talked ourselves blue in the
face,” or “until the cows come home,” we may occasionally
influence someone’s decision or behavior by a picture, a
story, or a metaphor which circumvents the vigilant thinking
brain, which is always on-duty, and has often already made
itself up. And after we’ve done our homework, and looked at
all the data, which is rarely enough, and generally
ambiguous, we will ourselves have to rely on something
beyond reason and analysis.
It’s common to rationalize our own intuitive decisions, and
we’re generally a lot more comfortable when the other person
does Unless you have uncommon stature or success, or
unscrutinized authority to make decisions, it’s best to
have a very rational explanation for anything you do. If
you make a good decision that makes money, no matter how you
made it, or say you made it, you’re a hero. If, on the
other hand, you make a poor decision, that loses money,
you’d better at least be able to come up with a good reason
why you did it, and have the data to back it up.
Although some people consider the knowledge gained through
intuition or gut feelings to be “emotional,” it is rather
knowledge gained through the senses, and/or through the
viscera. It has nothing to do with pulling a rabbit out of
a hat, or throwing darts at a dart board. Since it does
appear to be a right-brain function, explanations will often
mention one of the 5 (or 7) senses, or will be metaphorical.
Here are some of the things you can figure out in the
workplace if you’ve got good gut instincts, or highly
developed intuition:
1. Which way the wind is blowing.
2. How to smell a rat.
3. When the ax is about to drop.
4. How to see through the smoke screen.
5. When a deal smells fishy.
6. Who’s got their fingers in the cookie jar.
7. When to stay out of the boss’ line of fire.
8. How to stay in touch with the situation.
9. When the deal’s about to blow.
10. Who’s going to knife you in the back.
11. How to get your finger on the pulse of the organization.
12. When it’s legal, ethical and moral, but isn’t going to
pass the smell test.
13. What the temperature is in the Board room.
14. When and how to have ice water in your veins.
15. Which VP’s got “the Midas touch.”
16. Who makes your flesh creep.
17. When’s the right time to ask for a raise.
18. Which way the judge is leaning.
19. Who’s got the killer-instinct.
20. What story is going to touch the jury.
21. Who’s got “business sense.”
22. Who’s a “soft touch.”
23. Whose heart has turned to stone.
24. When you’re seeing rats leaving a sinking ship.
25. When the tide has turned.
26. When the deal’s gone sour.
27. Who can shed some light on the situation.
28. How to smell a phony a mile away.
29. When it’s the blind leading the blind.
30. Who’s got an ax to grind.
31. Who’s blowing smoke.
32. Who’s got a sixth sense for investments.
33. Which HR person knows how to look in a horse’s mouth.
34. Who speaks with forked tongue.
35. How to avoid opening a can of worms.
We rely on our intuition more than we may be consciously
aware. Once you get in tune with it, you have a sure guide
for the most important decisions. Everything is
relationships, at home and at work, and most of the
information we need to have is nonverbal, or just below the
level of awareness. Raise your level of awareness, with
emotional intelligence, and you can tap into a huge
reservoir of vital information and get the competitive edge.
What does it matter in the long run whether they say you’re
good at what you do because you’ve got eyes in the back or
your head, or a crystal ball, or because you’ve got a degree
in X from Y, or went through Z training program? What
matters is that you’re good at what you do, and it’s
generally a combination of education, training, experience,
emotional intelligence and luck. The first three variables,
you’ve probably taken care of, and luck you can’t control.
Therefore, I’m sure you can read the writing on the wall!
©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach,
http://www.susandunn.cc .
Coaching, business programs, Internet courses and ebooks
around emotional intelligence for your health, and your
personal and professional success. EQ certification program
for managers, coaches, HR personnel, therapists, counselors,
teachers, parents. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for
information on this fast, affordable, comprehensive,
no-residency program. Email for FR** ezine.
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